Nitric oxide decontamination of the upper respiratory tract
AssigneesPulmonox Technologies Corporation, Sensormedics Corporation
InventorsChristopher Miller, Alex Stenzler
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of topically treating the respiratory tract of a mammal with nitric oxide exposure includes the steps of providing a source of nitric oxide containing gas and delivering the nitric oxide containing gas nasally to the upper respiratory tract of the mammal. Also provided are several designs for a nasal delivery device for the controlled nasal deliver the nitric oxide containing gas.
Claims23
A nasal delivery device for delivering nitric oxide containing gas to an upper respiratory tract of a mammal, said device comprising:
- a source of nitric oxide containing gas;
- a nasal interface adapted to provide fluid communication between the source of nitric oxide containing gas and a first nostril of the mammal;
- a flow-control valve for controlling the flow of the nitric oxide containing gas from the source to the mammal;
- a one-way valve operable to be inserted into a second nostril of the mammal;
- and
- a mouthpiece comprising a resistive element operable to close the soft palate of the mammal.
A nasal delivery device for delivering a nitric oxide containing gas to an upper respiratory tract of a mammal, said device comprising:
- a collapsible reservoir comprising nitric oxide containing gas and having a volume substantially equal to the volume of the upper respiratory tract of the mammal;
- a nasal interface adapted to provide fluid communication between a nose of the mammal and the collapsible reservoir;
- and
- a control valve for controlling the delivery of the nitric oxide containing gas from the collapsible reservoir to the nasal interface.
A nasal delivery device for delivering a nitric oxide containing gas to an upper respiratory tract of a mammal, the device comprising:
- a source of breathable gas connected via tubing to a nasal interface for providing a gas stream of breathable gas to the mammal nasally;
- an inspiration flow profile sensor that measures the inspiration flow profile of the inspiration breath of the mammal;
- a source of nitric oxide containing gas operably in fluid communication with the gas stream of the breathable gas;
- a flow controller located between the a source of nitric oxide containing gas and the gas stream for releasing nitric oxide containing gas to the nasal interface;
- a controller for triggering the release of nitric oxide containing gas to the nasal interface at a predetermined time close to the end of the mammal's inspiration and at a flow rate that confines the nitric oxide containing gas in the upper respiratory tract of the mammal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.